Cairo - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
CSA in Maadi is a great spot to meet other people at cooking classes, workout classes, and other events. - Mar 2023
Everything from happy hours to boat rides on the Nile. There are plenty of local meet-ups and clubs. - Aug 2022
Best way to socialize is to rent a sailboat and take it out on the Nile with drinks and snacks! Around $10/hour to have someone take you out on the boat. It's fantastic! We also are a member of a local sporting club where we've met friends (like a U.S. country club, but bigger). There's also the Maadi House - which is our Embassy-run American Club that has pools and playgrounds. Other countries' diplomats can join so we'll meet people there on the weekends. - Aug 2022
There are all sorts of interest groups on Facebook and WhatsApp. There is a Cairo Hash House Harriers group, triathlon training groups, book clubs in various languages, pottery classes, painting classes, trivia nights, etc. Covid-19 has put a pause on the official diplomat social scene. In Maadi many people gather at the American Club. - Mar 2022
Meeting other people from other embassies at events, InterNations, and just going out to restaurants/clubs. I definitely recommend InterNations; they do a lot of events and tours. I will warn you, if you are a woman, you will be contacted by a lot of guys on the InterNations app. Some use it like a dating app. I just ignored the messages and friend requests unless I met someone at an event. - Dec 2021
Embassy offers activities (book clubs/outdoor groups), Maadi House always has activities (movie nights for kids/paint and sip), dinners. There are women's organizations. There are some night clubs and gaming groups that meet as well. - Feb 2021
Internations helps with events for all sorts of crowds. Know where the nightlife is, use other platforms for finding people that will help you find your social niche. - Nov 2020
Internations was a good way to connect with other expat-minded folks, but also allowed some connections to be made locally. There's the hash and other groups one could get involved in, sportsball and the like, to branch out and meet folks. - Jan 2020
There is a group that hosts diplomatic happy hours for all diplomats in Cairo. The British Embassy hosts pub quiz nights. There are a lot of opportunities to get to know people. - Sep 2017
InterNations.
There are pubs, restaurants, clubs etc. Many clubs. - May 2017
Eat at an outdoor restaurant. Go to a music performance at Cairo Opera House or the outdoor theater in Al Azhar park. Get dressed up and go to one of the many balls. Pub quiz. - Jan 2016
Egyptians do not eat out much, so the restaurants tend to be western style without alcohol. Our experience was a lot of dinners at home with friends. - Jan 2016
Take a picnic basket and some wine and hop on a sailboat on the Nile. The boats, called feluccas, can be rented for about US$10 per hour and can hold up to 20 people. - Oct 2014
Dinner cruises, dinner out, opera, ballets, touring, shopping, etc. - Aug 2014
Hmmm....we mostly entertain at home and go to friends houses. There is the Maadi House for Americans, the Maadi British Club ( open to other nationalities). There are many good restaurants and some of the hotel based restaurants serve alcohol. Felucca rides with a picnic are a great thing to do with a group of friends. - Aug 2014
Eating out, touring, watching DVDs. - Apr 2014
Felucca rides. - Mar 2014
Great. There is always a party going on every weekend, and with the large expat community you will surely find a group of friends to have fun with. - Jul 2013
Lots of restaurants. Getting a sailboat for an hour on the Nile is cheap and lets you connect to a bygone era of Egyptian history. - Jul 2013
The gay scene is almost non-existent, and it's hard for a gay couple to make friends here outside of the embassy staff. - Jun 2013
There are restaurants, felucca rides :), bars (yes, there are), Maadi House and entertaining with friends at home. - Jun 2013
There are many clubs in Zamaleck (such as the Jazz Club), and there is the Opera House. In Maadi there is the ACE Club and other private clubs. Most have live music on weekends. There are two good movie theaters in Maadi: Bandar and Family Cinema. There is also the City Stars Mall in Nasr City, which is a 20-30 minute drive from Maadi. There are restaurants such as Macaroni Grill, good movie theaters, and retail stores such as H&M. - May 2013
Everything happens at CAC (the American School) or one of the few expat clubs now, as people are afraid to go out on the town. - May 2013
There is plenty of stuff to do: balls of all kinds, clubs, sports events, eating out --- lots and lots. - May 2013
As noted previously, there are plenty of restaurants and movie theaters in Cairo. Other than that, much entertaining / social life is in homes, although many expats living downtown also take advantage of the city's bars and clubs. - Feb 2013
Depends on how much home entertaining you do, how adventurous you are, and how comfortable you feel wandering about after dark. - Feb 2013
Don't plan on having a glass of wine during dinner at a restaurant, the MB made that illegal. However, some places will allow you to bring in a bottle (for a fee) if you check with them. - Mar 2013
People have become insular; dinner parties and play dates at home are the norm now that so many weekend activities have been disrupted by localized protests. - Mar 2013
You can create your own, with some effort. - Feb 2013
Mostly home entertaining. There are dance clubs (salsa and popular) that I've heard of. Lots of restaurants to sit and eat at. - Nov 2012
Tons of it available. Egyptians will use any excuse to celebrate. - Aug 2011
The houses are made for entertaining, with big living rooms and dining rooms. There are catering services available and temporary help is available if you want to have big dinners/parties. There are many expatriate social gatherings and you will likely be invited to gatherings of Egyptian coworkers and other groups. - Jul 2011
Lots of entertainment and social things. By the school's, communities, Embassies. There's nightlife downtown. - Jun 2011
You never have to be bored. There are lots of places to go out and visit. The Opera House is excellent, and much cheaper than the European equivalents. - Sep 2010
I have 3 kids...what social life? - Jun 2010
Lots to do and plenty of places to go out to, from casual to swanky. Lots of family activities within the USG community as well. - Dec 2009
